Unilever’s Hellmann’s Converts 32-ounce Mayonnaise Line To Blow-Trim Jars

Unilever Foods recently converted its Hellmann’s 32-ounce mayonnaise line into PET jars.

Amcor PET Packaging says the blow-trim production process saves resin, energy and cycle time. It reportedly allows a wide-mouth jar to be produced from a standard narrow neck preform, eliminating the need for expensive injection mould tooling costs.

The switch affects four different 32-ounce varieties—Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, Light Mayonnaise, Reduced Fat Mayonnaise and Canola Oil.

Unilever says that consumer research indicated that the glass jar profile was essential to its identity. Additionally, the new PET jar had to deliver the same shelf life as glass.

‘Our customers associated the jar shape with the Hellmann’s brand. They also recognize the label colour scheme and graphics. It was important to retain all of those images,’ says Vinod Bansal, group manager, packaging technology, Unilever Foods.

The company was reportedly well positioned to handle the filling line conversion. ‘Many years ago, when we were updating our production facility, we had foresight that someday we would be converting from glass to PET. So, our engineers designed a line that could run either glass or plastic,’ Bansal explains.